sleeping with cerebral palsy

This past week in #CPChatNow was animated as always. Members talked about things like getting a bad night’s sleep, their routine in the morning, and the age old debate of audio books versus physical books.

Members first talked about something that plagues everyone from time to time, a bad night’s sleep and how long it takes them to recover:

zach asks how long members need to recover from a bad night's sleep. chris said it takes forever, blemi said 2 or 3 days and she needs 7 hours of sleep with 8 or 9 being better, zach said he is best with 8 hours of sleep and i tweeted i feel it the next day with 6.5-7 hours being optimal

Next, Zach asked members if they have to wake up earlier to get ready because of CP:

zach asked if members have to wake up early in the morning to get ready due to disability, I said no, but it does take me 5 minutes to put my shoes and orthotics on, zach said he saves time by keeping his shoes tied

I also recommended a book that I am listening to, Strangers Assume My Girlfriend Is My Nurse. Zach and I discussed what I do when I listen to audiobooks:

I recommend the book Strangers Assume My Girlfriend is My Nurse by Shane Burcaw. Zach asked if I multi-task while listening and I shared I do it on my train commute

Next, members engaged in the new school age old debate, physical books or audio books. Zach discussed audiobooks with Blemi who prefers physical books, but does like to use her e-reader.

Zach discussed audiobooks with Blemi who prefers physical books, but does like to use her e-reader.

Hannah and Dave Smith also weighed in on the audiobook debate with Hannah tweeting that she likes physical books because she can physically turn the pages and Dave tweeting it depends on the thing he is reading:

The conversation about audio books versus paper books continued. Hannah said she likes physical books, but they are a chore with her vision and she often gets distracted in audio books.Dave smith said he likes physical books for favorite authors and ebooks for reading and textbooks.

This brings us to our Extend-The-Conversation Question. I will use Zach’s question and put my own twist on it: Do you have to adjust your routine due to disability? Please share your answers in the comments and join us each Wednesday at 8 Eastern on #CPChatNow.

Please join us each Wednesday at 8 Eastern on Twitter at #CPChatNow

-Devin

Many interesting topics emerged Wednesday, May 17th, 2017 during the weekly cerebral palsy Twitter chat #CPChatNow. Or at least I, co-host Zachary Fenell, found the subjects intriguing. Go ahead and use this recap to draw your own conclusions.

Early on I asked about others’ sleeping habits. Specifically I sought information regarding the positions people sleep in and how many pillows they sleep with.

As I revealed in my back and forth with Blemi, curiosity motivated my question. I wondered if CP played a role in the positions we find comfortable. The various responses helped to provide the data needed to make such an evaluation.

Overall laying on your side with legs bent seemed the most popular sleeping position. Around 8:30pm ET our May focus chat announcement transitioned the conversation to a different matter.

Aging with cerebral palsy proves an in-demand issue. Like the above screenshot shows, participants couldn’t wait until May 31st to start addressing multiple points! We hope you will mark the “Aging with Cerebral Palsy” focus chat in your calendar and join us Wednesday, May 31st.

Concentrating back on our May 17th chat, friendly chatter kept the night progressing. This entailed individuals’ to-read lists. Mentioning a cerebral palsy memoir on my own to-read list caused the dialogue to evolve.

Interim co-host Devin Axtman noted he considers his life “pretty typical” and not really memoir worthy. Other participants expressed similar sentiments. Going a step further, Devin critiqued the disability stories currently out there.

Devin’s thought that disability stories can get repetitive spurred disagreement with #CPChatNow regular Rachel Folly. She supported her opinion with cerebral palsy’s individualistic nature. Devin further explained his critique, detailing what he deems the same story arch. What do you think? Let us know by answering for the week’s extend-the-conversation question, “Do you find disability stories repetitive? Why or why not?”

Leave your reply via a comment in the “Comments” section. Perhaps we will even revisit the question during our May Google Hangout. As Devin reminded us, the video chat takes place on Thursday, May 25th, 2017.

Towards the chat’s end a younger participant Kate initiated discussion asking others about how participants’ parents handled the cerebral palsy diagnosis. Replies demonstrated varying approaches taken.

Thank you all for reading and your interest in #CPChatNow. Hopefully you can make tonight’s chat, beginning as usual at 8pm ET. If you cannot participate this week though, please try participating next week on Wednesday, May 31st for our “Aging with Cerebral Palsy” focus chat. Until later remember to answer the week’s extend-the-conversation question.